Thien How-Wee Kiong make it to German Open semis (pic)

PETALING JAYA: World No. 8 Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong are the last men standing after Malaysia’s challenge was cut down in the quarter-finals of the German Open on Friday.

Thien How-Wee Kiong who are the tournament’s second seeds, scored an impressive win as they came from behind to down South Korea’s Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol 18-21, 21-16, 22-20 to make the semi-finals.

The Koreans who are the only active pair in action following Lee Yong-dae and Kim Ki-jung’s suspension by the Badminton World Federation, took a close first game 21-18.

However, Thien How-Wee Kiong, who have a good track record taking on Korean pairs, levelled the match by taking the second game 21-16.

Yet, the Malaysians, who are now the top pair in the country following Koo Kien Keat’s resignation from the BA of Malaysia (BAM), nearly blew it in the deciding rubber as they allowed Sung-hyun-Baek-cheol to hold match point at 20-19 despite initially leading 19-15.

But Thien How-Wee Kiong regained their nerves to force a deuce before sealing their place in the last four.

They will go on to meet Japan’s Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda, who upset fourth seeds Tsai Chia-hsin-Lee Sheng-mu of Taiwan, for a place in the final.

Meanwhile, there was no joy for Malaysian Open champions Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah who failed to get the better of top seeds Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan despite taking the first game.

V Shem-Khim Wah who are currently ranked No. 14 in the world, went down 21-14, 16-21, 15-21.

The Japanese world No. 3 will meet Thailand’s Maneepong Jongjit-Nipitphon Puangpuapech in the semi-finals.

In the women’s doubles, SEA Games champions Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei were no match for top seeds Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi of Japan.

Vivian-Khe Wei who are the sixth seeds, lost 14-21, 11-21 in just 28 minutes.

In the men’s singles, Marc Zwiebler gave the home crowd much to cheer about as he checked into the semi-finals with a 21-17, 21-19 win over South Korea’s Son Wan-ho.

Zwiebler, who is ranked No. 11 in the world, will meet Denmark’s Han-Kristian Vittinghus in the last four.